Kamal Ghorui
Dalal Street closed the holiday-shortened week in the green, lifting the combined market valuation of India’s top 10 most valued firms by Rs 2.20 lakh crore. Reliance Industries led the rally as investor sentiment remained resilient despite a volatile trading environment.The gains came even as the stock market moved within a narrow range. The BSE Sensex rose 249.29 points, or 0.32%, over the week. “Markets ended the week with marginal gains, reflecting a volatile and range-bound trading environment amid mixed global and domestic cues,” Ajit Mishra – SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said.He said markets started the week on an optimistic note, helped by easing geopolitical tensions and steady Q4 earnings progress, which supported sentiment in the early sessions.That momentum, however, weakened later as higher crude oil prices, subdued Asian market trends and sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows limited further gains.Reliance Industries accounted for the largest jump in valuation, with its market capitalisation increasing by Rs 1,39,655.8 crore to reach Rs 19,36,303.30 crore. Bharti Airtel also posted a significant rise, adding Rs 43,503.51 crore and taking its valuation to Rs 11,49,222.13 crore. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) saw its market worth rise by Rs 27,569.83 crore to Rs 8,94,933.95 crore, while Bajaj Finance gained Rs 9,432.32 crore, pushing its valuation to Rs 5,83,123.13 crore.In contrast, six of the top-10 firms together lost Rs 1.24 lakh crore in valuation.ICICI Bank registered the sharpest fall among the laggards, with its market capitalisation shrinking by Rs 45,364.62 crore to Rs 9,04,980.78 crore. State Bank of India followed with a decline of Rs 30,922.57 crore, reducing its valuation to Rs 9,85,829.96 crore. HDFC Bank’s valuation dropped by Rs 20,951.31 crore to Rs 11,87,274.17 crore, while Hindustan Unilever lost Rs 18,420.79 crore to settle at Rs 5,28,799.01 crore. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) saw its valuation decline by Rs 8,222.49 crore to Rs 5,04,798.07 crore, and Larsen & Toubro’s market worth slipped by Rs 178.83 crore to Rs 5,51,993.05 crore.As the week closed, Reliance Industries continued to hold its place as the country’s most valued domestic company. HDFC Bank remained second, followed by Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, Hindustan Unilever and LIC.
